Category Archives: Personal Empowerment

An International Womens Day protest march in Sydney.

International Womens Day has come and gone, leaving the annual short burst attention to womens issues in its wake. So now is a good time to look at what emerged from it, and whether gender equity has stalled.

Simone de Beauvoir famously said that women are the second sex, made and not born. Society is what makes us. The use of the term womens issues indicates we are still seen as such, as our presumed concerns are not universal. Feminism should be about ensuring we have the same power as men, so the question is whether women can equally set agendas and determine what matters.

The activities around International Womens Day did not suggest we were even on the way there. There were breakfasts to raise money, events to celebrate individual successes, and some interesting talkfests, but no political plans to implement the ideas.

We gathered at fundraising runs and marched with diverse womens groups waving a wide range of protest banners of protests. Solidarity was symbolised by many wearing newly knitted pink pussy hats to raise funds.

In short, there was much to like. But it seemed to be more social and celebratory than a political event, at a time when major changes and retro populism are threatening both what we have gained and an equitable future. Feminism seems to have lost its political way.

Yet, in extra flow of media attention, and limited protests at what is, there were some who expressed this wider concern. One of those was Jessa Crispin, a US author making waves with her polemic Why I Am Not a Feminist: A Feminist Manifesto.

Crispins case against feminism claims it has become tamed and universal, seeking acceptance and a share of the status quo and so has lost its radical commitment to changing society.

This resonated with my questioning of whether what were real feminist changes were obvious to younger women who grew up after the 1980s, in the more individuated and less socially connected modes of neoliberalism.

When I talked publicly of a 70s badge that stated women who want equality with men lack ambition, most were confused. Most of those over 30 failed to understand that being allowed to share some aspects of male equality was not nearly enough, nor would it lead to wider change. The younger ones, however, often responded with excitement, wanting to know more about serious changes that do not seem to be happening within feminism anymore.

Crispin offered some interesting analysis that suggested that feminist desires for change had been replaced by a universal feminism. In its attempts to become widely accepted, she writes, feminism had become as banal, as non-threatening and ineffective as possible. She goes on to say:

The feminism I support is a full on revolution. Where women are not simply allowed to participate in the world as it already exists but are actively able to reshape it.

Tough words that are obviously designed to stir, but she raises interesting questions about whether a once-dynamic, radical movement has dissipated into fragmented, identity-based subgroups. These often tend to promote self feel-good and bodily self expression as forms of much more personal politics.

Crispin wasnt the only feminist asking such questions. Germaine Greer, my age peer, launched her own critique, saying aiming for equality is a profoundly conservative goal for women. She continued:

What everybody has accepted is the idea of equality feminism. It will change nothing women are drawing level with men in this profoundly destructive world that we live in and, as far as Im concerned, its the wrong way. Were getting nowhere.

If were going to change things I think were going to have to start creating a womens polity that is strong, that has its own way of operating, that makes contact with women in places like Syria, and that challenges the right of destructive nations. Women needed to aim higher and achieve more than simply drawing level with men and entering into traditionally male-dominated fields.

As a sociologist, I think it is important to look at the political environments that created the changes that have occurred since the 1970s. Feminism, like other social movements, was infected by the neoliberal virus that altered politics and policy from the 80s on.

And heres a mea culpa: I argued, in the 80s, for more childcare funding to boost womens paid work. So now we have a market model, creating A$1 billion profit for corporations but excluding children whose parents dont have paid jobs.

This change is an example of the lack of clear feminist opposition to moving from our right to paid work to being obliged to do it.

Feminism did achieve much, but by the 1990s, having removed legal barriers and formal sex discrimination, collective changing of what mattered stopped. There was no interest in funding and developing the social (feminised) areas of societies, so there is little change and some backward slides.

The so-called DIY third wave arose in the 1990s as a much more fragmented movement, raising critiques of Western feminisms as undervaluing diversities. But these became entrenched and often divisive.

Crispin tends to label many of these types of changes as empowerment feminism, a shallow version of political action on personal issues. While this ignores the many community groups that raise funds and run feminist services for example, for victims of domestic violence they do not tackle issues of how we can stop the violence.

Identifying the problems of feminism and talking about it publicly is not enough. Crispin and Greer are right to say that we badly need some substantial feminist input to broaden the options for serious reform of our current politics, which is both seriously macho and damaging.

The over-emphasis on GDP and individual material wellbeing is creating the trust deficit, in which Australians believe governments no longer care about their futures and social wellbeing.

Whether there are those with the political and policy energy out there who can offer broad feminist leadership to get us out of the mess remains to be seen. It requires not just participating in decisions on current terms, but offering serious policy options that allow people to feel good about their social wellbeing and comfortable with the society we live in.

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'Empowerment' feminism is not working we need a far more radical approach to gender equality - The Conversation AU

On Saturday, March 18, more than 100 young girls between the ages of 14-18 joined state Sen. Kevin Parker and Queen Geniuses Founder and President Regine Roy for the fifthannual"Its In Your Hands"Girls Empowerment Conference at Medgar Evers College in Crown Heights. According to Sen. Parkers office the event catered to young girls from across the five boroughs and had a full day of programming, including inspiring presentations, a panel discussion, live performances by local cultural organizations and five breakout session workshops all focusing on supporting students to take full ownership and responsibility over their future legacies

A little bit of inspiration goes a long way. It is important to give young ladies a platform to confidently share their hopes, dreams and aspirations with each other, said Roy. They are able to develop a strong and purposeful foundation for themselves when given the opportunity to share their brilliance with one another.I am thankful to Sen. Kevin Parker for his continuous partnership and for making the empowerment of women and girls a priority.

Activist and Sexuality EducatorEricka Hartserved as the keynote speaker for this year's event. Music industry executives, entrepreneurs and community leaders also supported the event by offering personal stories about their professional journeys and sharing powerful messages for the young women to internalize throughout the day.

Queen Geniuses, Inc. is an educational consulting company that offers the Reclaiming Your Throne leadership development curriculum that engages young women in discussions around identity, obstacles, goals, love and sex, family and the media, according to the group. The series enhances students critical thinking skills, soft skills development and sense of self-actualization. With the opportunity for teenage girls to figuratively sit in their throne, they get to assess how they are governing over their personal empire, their lives.

"I have been a proud partner since the inception of the conference, and I truly believe in what comes out of the daylong event, said Parker. Ms. Roys dedication and confidence in our collective ability to improve the lives of others drives her every year to produce a better conference for our young girls, and I am humble to be a part of such a timely and essential event.

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Queen Geniuses and Sen. Parker host 5th annual Girls Empowerment Conference - Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Contrary to the title, Deidra and Laney rob many trains. They become prolific thieves, mastering and streamlining their illegal profession into the delicate series of events we usually see in heist movies. All while the sisters attend high school. Yes, Deidra & Laney Rob a Train is both a caper film and a high school comedy and for every moment it stumbles at one, it excels at the other.

Put into a desperate living situation after their mothers (Danielle Nicolet) nervous breakdown-induced incarceration (she liberates a TV from her blue-poloed electronics store job, then this mortal coil), elder sister Deidra (Ashleigh Murray) must care for her younger sister Laney (Rachel Crow) and kid brother Jet (Lance Gray) against forces such as mortgage payments and snooping CPS agents. I like movies that understand how a small part of the world works and use that knowledge to inform how their worlds unfold. Deidra & Laney understands a few parts very well: commercial trains, high school drama, and the suburban working class.

On top of finding money to pay for bail, bills, and food for the family, Deidras a senior. Valedictorian, too. That means college isunexpectedly for her schoolan option. We learn this via an animated performance by Sasheer Zamata as the worlds coolest guidance counselor, a job that movies already romanticize like English teacher or lawyer. Shes here to get Deidra into the Ivy League so they can both move on to bigger and better things, but pressure mounts as the problems pile up and the solutions dwindle.

Sydney Freelands direction keeps the film inventive, snappy, and bubblythe perfect combination to bridge the gap between unpopular Laneys surprise nomination for Miss Teen Idaho and the decision to start stealing from boxcars. This final solution comes not just from the meandering track behind the familys house, but a meandering ex-member of the family. Their father Chet (David Sullivan), deftly defined as a complex combination of charming and toxic, is a yard mechanic whose trainjacking knowledge offsets his deadbeat finances. He mentions the crime in passing, but by now we know that Deidra is an ambitious girl.

Then the fun really starts. A beautiful montage of planning, explanation, and execution empowers the sisters with all the moxie of Hollywoods vaultbusters and an easy-breezy familial bond forged by hateful words and loving gestures. The script may include a few too many pet names (glitter bunny?) that underestimate how believable their relationship already is to its audience, but the pace is quick and the conversations always feel real. First time screenwriter Shelby Farrell captures the dichotomy of petty immaturity and graduate-and-youre-not-my-problem responsibility thrust upon high schoolers on the cusp of the real world. She also shows how far past that cusp some studentsminority students, impoverished students, disabled students, anyone that may not have the same privileges as the restare pushed.

And yes, the family members (aside from Chet) are people of color. Its not an accident. The film allows them to be simultaneously hard workers undone by the system and badasses finding empowerment where they shouldnt (either by robbing trains or finding the small pleasures in prison), weaving complexity where kitsch or indie insufferability could overwhelm. The family is real, even if the train is just the way we understand them. Theyre the 63% of Americans whore one emergency away from being on the street. The crime is the dreaded hypothetical, discussed over microwaved dinner, proving both desperation and ability.

All this subtlety would be for naught without the leads. Ashleigh Murray wows whether in science class or busting a lock with a hoe. She crackles and sparks as she seeks personal success, preens and flexes when she achieves itall standing completely still. She and Rachel Crow share the quick jabber and lived-in facial expressions that fade the idea that theyre actors far into the background. When theyre in front of us, all were wondering is what theyll do after throwing a boxload of jeans off a moving train, forever changing the meaning of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

The script can get a bit too cutesy at times (all the basic white girls at school obsess over Taylor Swift) and Jets character exists as cliched plot motivation more than anything (always need a child being threatened by authority), but the films a delightfully vulgar blast. The teens talk like teens. Its surprisingly refreshing to hear Aw, shit from a young person outside a Judd Apatow film. Tim Blake Nelsons over-zealous train cop is the one tonal misstep in the whole precariously pitched movie, somehow not threatening enough while being an attempt at the wrong kind of humor. The rest of the film is so sharp that his characters bumbling makes it feel a lot more low-rent than it deserves. Heroes of this caliber, even if theyre teen criminals that use their money to stunt on their bitchy ex-friends, deserve a villain to match.

Im not wont to recommend the creation of more films in a genre mashup so rife with pretentious pratfalls as teen/heist, but if theyre all about sisters finding personal empowerment through a bit of Robin Hoodery (and theyre all directed by Freeland), Im game for much more.

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Review 'Deidra & Laney Rob a Train' Is Dual Genre Delight - Film School Rejects

Photo: John Davenport, San Antonio Express-News

Here is a therapeutic option: Register to vote. Engagement and action are the twin enemies of depression.

Here is a therapeutic option: Register to vote. Engagement and...

Depression comes in several forms that are sometimes interlinked. Adult males, who found themselves unemployed and unable to support their families during the Great Depression, were psychologically depressed, as sociologist R.C. Angell documented in 1936. In retrospect, the connection is obvious: Rather than faulting a faltering economy, many of the fathers and husbands blamed themselves. That linkage reappeared some 80 years later, when widespread mortgage failures in the wake of the 2008 economic collapse of the big banks were accompanied by a spike in psychological depression. There is another form of depression not as well understood, not as well characterized, and far less well known: political depression.

It is a phenomenon that surfaces when people feel dismayed or apprehensive about the political landscape, while simultaneously feeling that they are unable to act in a way that might alter the overwhelming sense of impending doom. In the wake of Trumps surprising victory in the 2016 election, a good segment of the population fell into what could be just so diagnosed. Psychiatrists across the country reported an unusual spike in patients complaining about a new or at least unusual form of depression, something not easily characterized as a familiar psychological malaise.

Across a broad range of age and class divisions, and across the nation, many remain deeply disturbed by Donald Trumps presidency in ways that are both politically unique and potentially invigorating while simultaneously potentially debilitating.

While any attempt to sharply distinguish political depression from psychological depression is unlikely to succeed, the exercise could be useful because the cure or the therapy would be different. For example, a range of websites have generated to-do lists to try to get people mobilized for political action. Many of these have thoughtful and reasonable suggestions, but the sheer magnitude of so many scores of options can be overwhelming. We are witnessing a sense of malaise because of the perceived barriers to taking action.

So here is an alternative therapeutic option: Register to vote. Engagement and action are the twin enemies of depression.

Approximately 100 million Americans who were eligible to vote in 2016 did not bother. It is safe to assume that at least half of the voters in the last election know one person in their direct orbit who did not vote, often in their own family, certainly in their friendship circle, church, or workplace. Quite different from often impersonal voter registration drives what one person can do is attempt and often achieve a goal that is best enabled one-on-one. Why not put at the top of the to-do list each one, register one?

If everyone who voted pledged to find someone who did not, and get them to register, that very engagement could help vault a lot of people out of their political depression. Most significantly, if you can see your individual action as linking up to a larger movement, this single act is more easily converted into a sense of making a difference, and thus personal empowerment.

So why not try to persuade a colleague, friend, relative or neighbor to register to vote, and see how much better you feel. Its a lot cheaper than a drug, and the side effects are likely to be positive.

Troy Duster is emeritus Chancellors Professor of Sociology at UC Berkeley.

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A cure for political depression register to vote - San Francisco Chronicle

A facilitator of dance for health and wellbeing and former international ballet master was at Abertay University to share how his dedicated dance sessions can have a positive impact on the lives of people with Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Multiple Sclerosis.

Andrew Greenwood told an audience at Abertay's Hannah Maclure Centre of the growing economy in the wellness and health market, and how policymakers are recognising a demand for a different approach to managing health.

The 54-year-old, who has performed in ballet companies all over the world including the US, Brazil and Europe, developed his Switch2Move workshops as a way of using movement and artistic practice techniques to improve serious health conditions.

He said: "When a person is diagnosed with an incurable disease, they start to be treated as a 'person with Parkinson's or 'Alzheimer's' and treatments are very concentrated on the condition rather than the individual.

"I recognised that the health condition is only 10% of the actual person and realised I could make a difference.

"For example, somebody with Parkinson's has very clear symptoms so you know they need to work on balance, flexibility, stability and cognition.

"With MS you need more of a 'moving meditation' and open space way to approach the person and if it's someone with Alzheimer's you get fully up in their face, because in half an hour they may not know who you are."

Andrew traveled from his home in Amsterdam to deliver the talk, which was hosted by Abertay's Dundee Academy of Sport and Division of Psychology.

He said a new market in movement for wellbeing was emerging, adding: "Policymakers are looking for new ways of finding personal empowerment, because we currently have an inactivity epidemic."

Andrew's visit was organised by Abertay psychology lecturer Dr Corinne Jola, who has over a decade of expertise in research on the neuronal and cognitive processes involved in dance. Recently, she has written a chapter for an upcoming book on the health benefits of dance.

Dr Jola has worked in multidisciplinary research projects on the perception and cognition of dance in prestigious universities across Europe, before taking up her position at Abertay.

Her background is not just in the sciences, she is also a dancer and a choreographer.

She said: "This chapter is a review of the physiological, psychological and emotional benefits of dance.

"This was a theoretical approach, so I am delighted to have Andrew here to tap into his practical experience."

Dr Jola's chapter, "The dancing queen: Explanatory mechanisms of the 'feel-good-effect' in dance" will be included in The Oxford Handbook for Dance and Wellbeing later this year.

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Abertay University International Talk Master Shares How Dance Session Can Have Positive Effect - Broadway World

Student Government Board Vice President Sydney Harper is awestruck when she thinks about the women who have come before her and left behind inspirational legacies.

On Sundays women empowerment-themed episode of Pitt Tonight, Harper reeled off numerous names from her ultimate inspiration, Harriet Tubman, to queen Oprah Winfrey, to Meryl Streep and Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

I am someone who has always gotten chills when it comes to thinking about amazing women who have done amazing things, and Im surrounded by them all the time at Pitt, Harper said. I wanted to make a space where it is celebratory and also explanatory in terms of where are we, where have we been and where are we going.

To celebrate these pioneering ladies, Student Government Board in association with other student groups including Pitt Program Council, Campus Womens Organization and Black Action Society is hosting its first Womens Empowerment Week from March 20 to 24. Harper and 13 others on the women empowerment planning committee have been planning for this since November 2016.

The one big reason we called it Womens Empowerment Week was because we wanted to use the acronym WE because empowerment of everyone comes when everyone supports it, Harper said. So nothing this week is limited to just women because we want everyone to be a part of empowering women and all students.

The purpose of the week is to create a space for all students to come together: to network, brainstorm, look at art, engage and leave feeling empowered. There will be six events throughout the week including a comedy show by Leslie Jones and a screening of the movie Girl Rising. Additionally, Womens Empowerment Week will include the GAL-A, the Pitt Womens Leadership Experience retreat and an art gallery featuring work related to themes of womens empowerment.

More than 200 students gathered to watch Harper kick off the week, along with Geri Allen, Grammy-nominated pianist and Pitt Jazz Studies professor, and Sidney Cannon-Bailey, a fourth-year bioengineering major.

In between guest segments, Cannon-Bailey showed Irwin how to play the asparagus piano and make elephant toothpaste innovative science experiments fit for humanities majors. She said it can be hard for women to find the support they need in STEM fields, but when someone is giving her a hard time, she asks herself how best to prove them wrong. The show concluded with a dance performance by the YaBaso African Dance Team.

In addition, more than 10 women-focused groups and student organizations such as Resident Student Association and Women in Business were invited to be a part of the show and hang up flyers and posters at the event.

The whole point is to get everyone in one room to promote the week, and to shine a light on people who dont get the light they deserve, Jesse Irwin, host of Pitt Tonight, said.

After the show, Liz Chiyka, a first-year biology major, said she and her three friends initially went to watch an episode of the show, but left excited for the upcoming week of WE events.

I think its really important to recognize all the different facets of womens empowerment from dancing to science and STEM fields which I thought [Pitt Tonight] did a really good job highlighting, Chiyka said.

Irwin said Pitt Tonight is run by women and the show would be nothing without them. According to Irwin, who is a comedian himself, comedy is a tough industry to break into because it is filled with men who talk about women. Before the shows conclusion, he thanked the women who inspire him, including Pitt Tonight Executive Producer Hayley Ulmer.

Ulmer said after the show that she was the one who pitched the idea to Harper to have a womens empowerment-themed episode, and that the timing couldnt be more perfect.

I know the guests talked about how womens empowerment meant going after opportunities and equality, but to me, womens empowerment also is about supporting and listening to each other, Ulmer said.

The rest of the week will feature one event each day.

Pitt Womens Leadership Experience retreat, which about 80 women have signed up to attend this year, March 24 to March 25. Students had to complete an application by March 5 to attend the retreat, which was created by Senior Vice Chancellor Kathy Humphrey.

To Harper, the goal of having the Womens Empowerment Week is personal. She said she has left leadership and networking events feeling, Im awesome, youre awesome, were awesome, lets do this.

She wants everyone to leave feeling the exact same way.

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Pitt Tonight shines spotlight on Women's Empowerment Week - University of Pittsburgh The Pitt News

Be inspired, gain insight, make connections

Balancing all the demands we place on ourselves as women is not easy. Neither is overcoming the external professional, gender and cultural challenges we encounter.Sometimes we just need an opportunity to be inspired, and gain new insights to help us achieve personal and professional success. Thats where the Multicultural Womens Conference and Fair comes in, bringing like-minded women together who can learn from and empower each other. Free Admission.

Coming from a holistic perspective, theevent touches on everything from achieving success to personal empowerment to finding your authentic self, to parenting to health. More than just a fair, our goal is to provide a space for women to interact and find long-term connections to other women and mentors.

Heres what you can expect at the free Multicultural Womens Conference and Fair on March 25 10a.m. to 4 p.m.in Vancouver at the Croatian Cultural Centre (3250 Commercial Dr.). Free Admission.

9:45 a.m.: REGISTRATION OPENS AT DOOR (or preregister online here).

10 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.: WELCOME plus a special BollyX dance/fitness presentation by Clara Chan

10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.: TRADESHOW OF EXHIBITORS opens, including:

10:30 a.m.: TOOLS AND TIPS FOR STARTING YOUR BUSINESS with Alpana Sharma of Womens Enterprise Centre

11:30 a.m.: CAREERS WITH THE VPD + PERSONAL SAFETY DEMO with Detectives Andrea Dunn, Michelle Neufeld and Julie Birtch

12:30 p.m.: BE MINDFUL, BE YOUR BEST with Jasmine Bharucha, realtor, author and singer

1 p.m.: CONFIDENCE AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO CAREER SUCCESS with leadership coach Manpreet Dhillon

1:45 p.m.: THE WOMANS VOICE: SPEAKING TIPS with Catherine Steele of English Pronunciation for Success

2:15 p.m.: NETWORKING TRUTHS, TIPS AND TRICKS with Karen Southall Watts, entrepreneur and business trainer

2:45 p.m.: PARENTING WORKSHOP: THE POWER OF CONNECTION with Cheryl Song, parenting trainer and columnist

3:15 p.m.: CREATING A HAPPY BALANCE with Dr. Nareeta Stephenson of Strawberries and Sunshine Healing Centre

See full description of program here.

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What to expect at the free Multicultural Women's Conference and Fair on March 25 in Vancouver - canadianimmigrant.ca

A postcard advertises Women's Empowerment Week in Monclair.(Photo: Mollie Shauger/NorthJersey.com)

April in Montclair begins with a focus on women.

Organized by the Montclair Center Business Improvement District and presented by Schumacher Insurance, Montclair's second"Women's Empowerment Week," from April 1 to 9,will include a forum inthe Wellmont Theater, a schedule of talks by experts from diverse fields, a self-defense workshop,and more.

We have assembled some of the leading experts on empowerment, entrepreneurship, health and personal fulfillment to speak throughout Montclair Center, stated Israel Cronk, executive director of the Montclair Center BID.It really speaks to our community that so many accomplished people want to volunteer their time to sharing their stories and helping others.

"The momentous time of celebrating women is now, statedHoney Correia, president of Schumacher Insurance Agency.

Throughout the week, locations throughout Montclair Center will collectfunds, clothing and personal hygiene products for Essex Countys rape care center, SAVE of Essex County, a program of the Montclair-based Family Service League, according to a release.Thecollections will fund work providing rape care packages to sexual assault victims, a 24-hour emergency hotline, and victim counseling and support.

Last year's initial event focused just on gathering donations for the Family Service League and SAVE of Essex County. This year's week has "grown exponentially," to include a host of events, according toAnn Marie Sekeres of the Montclair Center BID.

"The whole idea of having events and talks is completely new," Sekerestold The Montclair Times.

More than $3,000 and more than 1,000 items for rape-care packages were donated last year, according to Christine Ferro-Saxon, executive director of Family Service League/SAVE of Essex County.

The packages for victims of sexual assault include things like clothing, snacks and toiletries, andare given to victims at the hospital, as they are often required to give up their clothes for evidence and they can't eat, drink or bathe before they're examined, Ferro-Saxon stated.

Unlike last year's Women's Empowerment Week, held in the summer, this year's will directly tie in with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which is April, she noted.

As the countys designated rape care center, we really appreciate the support and interest from the community to keep our vital work going, stated Ferro-Saxon.

The weeks events will begin on Saturday, April 1 with a self-defense empowerment workshop inthe YMCA, 25 Park St.,at 1:30 p.m. The workshop is a $10 donation, with all proceeds going to SAVE of Essex.

To register for the workshop, visit familyserviceleague.org.

At 2 p.m., Montclair Riding Company will host a talk by Shari Ives, owner of Motorcycle Training Schools, about the freedom of motorcycle riding.The talk is free, but donations to SAVE of Essex are encouraged.

Sunday, April 2, will featurean evening event at Studio Air Aerial Dance and Fitness Center, 180 Bloomfield Ave. The event, Strength in Silk, will be a one-hour aerial silks class for the community to come together and support SAVE of Essex.The class is a $25 minimum donation, and allproceeds will be donated to SAVE.The class is open to all levels.RSVP at StudioAir.rocks.

The Womens Empowerment Forum on Tuesday, April 4, will include enlightening and inspirational stories from local women ofdistinction, including WOR radio host Joan Herrmann, career and life coach LauraBerman Fortgang, Montclair Township Councilmember Renee Baskerville, producer and activist Peg Cafferty, business owner and teacher Omni Kitts Ferrara, and Masiel Rodriquez-Vars, executive director of theMontclair Fund for Educational Excellence. The event will be hosted by local entrepreneur Donna Miller.

Donna Miller, founder and president of C3 Workplace in Montclair, will host the Women's Empowerment Forum on April 4.(Photo: Montclair Center BID/Special to NorthJersey.com)

For tickets, visit montclaircenter.com or tiny.cc/womenforum.

From Wednesday, April 5, through Friday, April 7, more than30 talks have been scheduled throughout downtown Montclair Center bywomen professionals, health and nutrition expertsand entrepreneurs.

These talks include Elisa Charters of Latina Surge speaking about empowerment and equal pay, Virginia Cornueand Linda Lombri discussing life after retirement, artist Stephanie Spitz and artist/owners Amy Tingle and Maya Stein sharing about their lives in art, and Serena Chen, M.D., discussing IVF and talks about entrepreneurship, surviving trauma, fitness and health.

Check montclaircenter.com for the developing schedule of talks.

Attendees will be asked for a small donation ($2-5) to benefit SAVE of Essex.

Ladies Night Out on Friday, April7, includes events and specials throughout downtown Montclair and "selfie stations."

More more information, visitmontclaircenter.com/newjersey/women-empowerment-week/.

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Women's Empowerment Week coming to Montclair in April - NorthJersey.com

Male Empowerment Summit' Saturday

WKYC 6:28 PM. EDT March 18, 2017

Cleveland City Councilman Zack Reed (Photo: Sean Forester, WKYC-TV)

CLEVELAND - It's harder to do the right thing than the wrong thing. And making tough choices builds character.

That was the message Saturday to Cleveland boys at a special youth summit.

While the title of this male empowerment summit is "Reclaiming Manhood," it was really about being a leader in the community, and growing into responsible adults.

The summit was free and designed for young men ages 11-17 and focused on personal responsibility and address topics ranging from manhood and character development, leadership and strategies for spiritual, personal, and professional growth, according to the event organizers.

It was sponsored byWake Up Call Communications and the Union Miles Development Corporation

Cleveland City Councilman Zack Reed was among those addressing these young men.

Reed explains why these lessons are so critical.

2017 WKYC-TV

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'Reclaiming Manhood: Male Empowerment Summit' Saturday ... - WKYC-TV

We know we will not tolerate abuse, harm, or destruction. When fear surfaces in our lives, we honor who we are and respect our limits. When we know our worth, we are not constantly depending on external stimulation to prove or affirm ourselves.

No one can abuse or love us beyond the point of which we abuse or love ourselves.

When we loose sight of ourselves we act from a place of deep need for attention and recognition. Consequently, generating drama and chaos in our lives and the lives of those around us. This is the shadow side of fear- disconnection, falsehood, and pain. When we choose to embrace the light of fear we willingly accept an invitation to gain personal freedom.

In fear based thoughts, we have access to our story and we realize that the story we choose to tell is just that - a choice.

"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are" - Anais Nin

Get curious about your story What are the themes that continue to come forward? That is, what are the constant, "I can't, I should've, it will never work," stream of thoughts, ultimately causing further pain and suffering. We most commonly experience this pain and suffering as anxiety, depressive symptoms, low energy and disconnection.

Claim your power and make a shift What if I told you that as easily as it is to think and allow thoughts based in fear to germinate, it is just as easy to pivot and invest in thoughts around possibility and opportunity. The moment we decide to stand behind ourselves, to fully support our intention of wanting to feel good- we affirm our value and worth. Because the truth is: we are priceless and we are all destined for a beautiful life.

We all deserve to know how good we truly are, and we all deserve support, kindness, and respect for the simple reason that we exist. Heal any feelings of lack and your sun will shine brightly. Give more to yourself, committing to building yourself to fullness. Personal power can express itself in any situation and guides us through the maze of resistance and opposition placed on our path to help us grow and mature.

Feel into your personal empowerment and navigate the world in a balanced and considerate way. Take the time to remember who you are.

When we love and value ourselves, we are better able to respond to situations through love and compassion. It's ok to give ourselves permission to thrive, using all that we experience for opportunities of growth and expansion. It truly is ok to let the inner measuring stick go!

The way we view and hold ourselves becomes translated into every experience and exchange we have. True personal freedom and happiness starts within.

Gianpaolo Gentle

Jennifer is passionately committed to serving as a nurturer, supporting others in navigating their own personal journey of healing, enlightenment and awakening. Combining her varied trainings and degrees in counseling, self-inquiry and coaching to support your unique aspirations, you are invited to unlock the passions of your heart. Learn more...

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How strongly do you value yourself? - Huffington Post